Arizona Range News and San Pedro Valley News-Sun Endorse Giffords

TUCSON - The Arizona Range News and the San Pedro Valley News-Sun have announced their endorsement of Gabrielle Giffords, calling her “moderate by any reasonable definition,” and stating that “it isn’t about Democrat or Republican. It’s about the individual.” Giffords has also been endorsed by the Tucson Citizen, Arizona Republic, Tucson Weekly, and Green Valley News.

The Arizona Range News and the San Pedro Valley News-Sun serve rural portions of Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District, including the communities of Benson, Willcox, St. David, Pomerene, Cascabel, Mescal, J-Six, Dragoon, San Simon, Sunsites, Bowie, Cochise, and Dragoon.

Here is a portion of their endorsement editorial:
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“One good thing about the election being just around the corner is that we are only two weeks away from not having to listen to political ads. It seems they become more obnoxious every year and less dependent on actual facts.

“That has certainly been the case this year.

“Advertising against one candidate and for one proposition has been so misleading and so devoid of facts that we are taking this opportunity to clear the air a bit and endorse in those two races. In the other races on the ballot, we think the incumbents have been doing a good job. In our view, the only reason to replace incumbents is poor performance. We don’t see that. But back to the bad advertising. One of the more egregious examples is Randy Graf’s ad calling Gabrielle Giffords an extreme liberal. Giffords is moderate by any reasonable definition. Graf’s ad makes it sound as if Giffords is helping to smuggle undocumented workers across the border. Part of the problem for Graf is that he is essentially a one-issue candidate. He has focused most of his campaign on border issues. They are important issues, but we need congressional representation with a little more depth and breadth.

“Giffords has run a campaign that addresses the border, but also addresses health care, education, public safety and a host of other critical issues that don’t seem to get much traction in the Graf campaign. Jim Kolbe was a good congressman for more than 20 years. We need someone to replace him who will represent all of the District 8 constituents. We need someone who is fair-minded and measured in response to challenges.

“It isn’t about Democrat or Republican. It’s about the individual. For that reason, we endorse Gabrielle Giffords for the District 8 congressional seat.”